Wagon scraper



ADAMS WAGON'SCRAPER Filed Dec. 26, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet l ..LSL: m ATTORNEY Aug. 13, 1935. w. J. ADAMS WAGON SCRAPER Filed Dec. 26, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. J. ADAMS Aug. 13, 1935.

WAGON SCRAPER Filed Dec. 26, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR w. J. ADAMS Aug. 13, 1935.

WAGON SCRAPER Filed Dec. 26, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 w mwww INVENTOR W J A dunes Patented Aug, 13, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE William J. Adams, Santa Cruz, Calif. application December 26, 1933 Serial No. 703,871

21 Claims. (01. 37-129) This invention relates to scrapers and particularly to those of the large heavy duty type, adapted to be connected in supported relation to and drawn by a tractor.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a dirt scraping and retaining structure in the form of a main bowl and a secondary front bowl or apron arrangedto receive the forwardly overflowing dirt as it is scraped into the main bowl, said secondary bowl being connected to the main bowl. In connection'with these parts 1 have provided for their adjustable connection in such a manner that they can be set relative to each other to operate efficiently with either very heavy or very loose dirt whose characteristics are different, as well as all grades of dirt in between these extremes, as will be seen hereinafter.

The main and secondary bowls are adapted to be tipped forwardly toward the rear for load discharging purposes, a relatively movable endgate normally closing the rear end of the main bowl.

Another object of my invention is to so mount the endgate and provide actuating means there- I for arranged so that as the bowl is tilted beyond simple.v

The side'plates of the main. and secondary bowls, whichare pivotaily connected together for relative movement, overlap each other, so that with the ordinary construction dirt would inevitably get between the plates and ultimately cause binding or straining and excessive wear. A further object of my invention is to provide wiper blades mounted on one set ofplates to cooperate with the others, and to so connect the.

plates that these blades are always maintained in positive frictional and wiping contact with the cooperating plates. Inthis manner not only is dirt prevented from getting between the plates but the outer plates are wiped clean of adhering dirt when the plates move relative to each, other.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a simple and eflicient operating mechanism for the main bowl to turn the same on its pivot,

arranged so that the center of gravity is kept very low and so that the larger area of the side plates as well as the bottom thereof and the secondary bowl are entirely free of any pull rods, lift shafts and other elementsnow generally used or considered necessary, and. which not only add to the cost of construction but prevent a clean cut appearance of the apparatus being had. Elements of the above mentioned character are also entirely lacking above or across the dirt carrying bowls, thus making the structure adaptable for use as a carrying dump wagon, to be loaded by a steam shovel or the like, since there is nothing to interfere with the loading of the bowls from above.

To sum up, I believe that I have provided a neat appearing structure of this character having the advantages of being equally serviceable in all kinds of dirt; one which may be used equally well as a carrying scraper or asa carrying dump wagon; one which will scrape and carry a large load; one which is very strong without necessitating excessively heavy metal or a number of braces in its construction; and yet one which is very simple and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and keep up.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as willfully appear by a perusal of the following' specification and claims: y

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views. Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the scraper in its loading position showing the front bowl .membcr setfor use in relatively light dirt.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the scraper with the near wheel removed, set for use in relativel heavy dirt.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the scraper in a transporting position.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of the scraper in dumping position.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross secfront end of the tongue has a swivel element 4 for connection to a tractor so that the frame is supported against vertical movement at that end. The rear end of the side beams, which are dropped somewhat, are rigidly connected by a cross shaft 5. Intermediate the ends of the side beams, vertically spaced transverse sleeves 6 are mounted in connection therewith, to selectively receive trunnions I on which either wheels 8 or the frame of endless crawler trucks may be mounted as the operating conditions may require.

Turnable on the shaft between the side beams is a sleeve 9 which is rigidly welded or otherwise secured to and forms a torque connection between the upstanding side plates ill of the main bowl of the scraper, at the rear lower end of said plates. Any turning movement thus applied to one side plate will be transmitted in equal degree to the opposite plate, which is particularly useful in connection with the particular bowl turning means employed, as will be seen later. The side plates are substantially of rectangular form and are joined to the bottom plate ll just above the sleeve,'said bottom plate extending substantially to the forward edge of the side plates. A reversible cutting blade 92 is mounted along the forward edge of the bottom plate, said blade and the adjacent portion of the bottom plate having a downward slant relative to the remainder of the plate.

By reason of the sleeve and shaft unit above described, not only is a very compact structure provided, but the frame as well as the scraper plates are securely tied together, the sleeve 9 not only forming a pivot or hinge for the turning movement of the bowl, but also forming a'rigid torque connection between the plates. The side plates thus in effect are lever arms rigid with each other, so that the action of the lifting devices (which are separately applied to the side plates as will be seen later) is synchronized, and said devices are in efiect tied together to positively act in unison.

Tilting mechanisms may therefore be used.

which need no cross connection with each other, and which can be mounted on the outside of the bowl, keeping the area across the top of the same entirely clear of any obstructions which might interfere with the loading or other movement of the dirt, or with the desired range of movement of the bowl.

It will also be seen that the side beams are rigidly tied together at their rear end, as is vitally necessary not only to prevent them spreading but also to resist and equalize the lifting strains thereon by the supporting wheels or tracks.

By using this-cross connection as a hinge pin for the bowl, it is disposed ahead of the rear end of the bowl and offers no obstruction to the rearward tilting of the bowl or to the discharge of dirt therefrom. Also said cross connection is obviously so positioned that no interference with the free downward tilting of the bowl to a digging position is had.

' The rear end closure for the main bowl comprises an endgate l3 extending upwardly from the rear edge of the plate H and fitting closely between the plates '0, and provided with forwardly extending arms 54 pivoted on the inside the side plates l0, and a combination front and bottom plate l8 adapted to extend to the blade i2 when the secondary bowl is in its lowest position. The side plates l0 intermediate their front and rear ends are provided with vertical rows of holes I9. These holes, when the bottom plates of the bowls are in cooperating alined relationship with each other, mesh with similar rows of holes 20 in the side plates ll. Bolts 2| project through any selected pairs of holes in the adjacent plates simultaneously, and serve as pivot connections between the side plates of the main and secondary bowls.

Transversely extending rollers 22, adapted to bedisposed'in different vertical positions, are mounted on and project outwardly from the sides of the secondary bowl adjacent its front end, to ride on rails 23-secured along the adjacent portions of the beams I. The rails and rollers of courselimit the downward movement of the secondary bowl and are positioned to prevent such movement of the bowl when the latter has reached a level somewhat below the predetermined transporting position-of the main bowl. Thus whenv the bowls are in such position the bottom plates of the bowls will be firmly engaged with each other as shown in Figure 3, thus preventing any possible escape of dirt from between the blade I 2 and the adjacent edge of the sec-- ondary bowl. 7

It will thus be seen that if the main bowl is turned down from a transporting position about the pivot and connecting sleeve 9 as an axis, until the blade engages the ground, the secondary bowl will remain relatively raised. If the top pairs of holes l9 and 20 are connected by the bolts 2i, such downward movement of the main bowl causes a considerable forward movement of the secondary bowl, the rollers 22 then riding forwardly along the rails and the rear edge of the secondary bowl being spaced a relatively great distance ahead of the blade of the main bowl as shown in Figure 1. With the reverse movement of the bowls the rear edge of the secondary bowl approaches the blade I2 with a gradual sweeping or arcuate movement which is very effective in scooping up dirt of a loose or light character.

If on the other hand the lowest pairs of plate holes are connected by the bolts 2! the relatively forward movement of the secondary bowl is very slight as shown in Figure 2. Thus, when the main bowl is raised its, blade and rear edge of the secondary bowl approach each other with a relatively abrupt and shearing, rather than a scooping action, on the dirt. This is necessary when operating in heavy dirt to prevent possible clogging or jamming, as dirt of this character may be cut through much easier than it can be scooped or shoved along.

In connection with the above feature I have found from experience that a large opening.is needed when scraping up loose dirt. The reason for this is the fact that such dirt does not readily move of itself back into the bowl but instead tends to pile up in front of the blade. The large opening is therefore necessary to accommodate this large pile or column of dirt, which as it piles up gradually overflows forwardly into the secondary bowl. The subsequent closed-action of the secondary bowl from this large opening position has a further scooping action on the loose dirt and efficiently disposes the same inthe bowls.

With heavy or clay-like dirt on the other hand it is. impossible for dirt of thischaracter to readily flow or to be scooped, so that a scooping action of the secondary bowl would be of no use, and it is doubtful if the bowl would actually move down to a full closing position when operating in dirt of this character. By then connecting the secondary bowl to the lowest pairs of holes how-- ever so that the large movement and the scooping action is eliminated, a direct downward shearing cut through this heavy dirt is obtained instead, and the secondary bowl has no trouble in After the main bowl has moved up into closing relation with the secondary bowl from either position of the latter, the bowls are then in-a transporting position with their bottom plates substantially horizontal and further upward turning of the main bowl also raises the secondary bowl therewith as a unit, as will be evident.

The necessary movement is. imparted to the main bowl by suitable means. Such means in this instance is hydraulic and comprises substantially horizontal cylinders 24 disposed above the side beams land pivotally mounted at theirforward ends on bosses 25 upstanding from said beams. Piston rods 26 project from the rear ends of the cylinders and are pivoted on the side plates l0 adjacent the rear end of the same at a suitable point in their height. Fluid is fed to both ends of the cylinders selectively to control the movement of the piston rods in opposite directions through suitable pipes 21 connected to the cylinders andextending'to the front end of the scraper'frame and thence to a source of pressure on the tractor. Even movement of both rods and of the corresponding bowl plates is assured by the rigid connecting sleeve 9' between said side plates, as previously explained. Also, this ar rangement keeps the sides, and top of the bowl free from the necessity of mounting any hanger arms, pull or tie rods and the like thereon.

when the bowl structure has been tipped up above a transporting position it is desired that all the load shall slide out of itself which of course necessitates raising the rear endgate. This is accomplished automatically by means of cables 28 connected to the gate at its sides. These cables extend about pulleys 29 mounted on the plates III at their top rear corners and thence to anchors such as the bosses 25. The length of these cables are such that they will remain slack until the bowls have .been tilted upwardly beyond a transporting position. The distance between the pulleys and anchors then constantly increases as will be evident, causing the endgate to be raised relative to the main bowl, as shown in Figure 4.

A discharge opening of suflicient height for theready flow of the contents of the scraper bowls is thus provided.

The complete absence of any projections onthe'side plates of the main bowl, from the front end of the same to adjacent their rear end as stated, enables the platosof the auxiliary bowl or apron to be disposed on the outside of the main-bowl plates, since there is nothing to interfere with the necessary movement of said apron plates. This outside placing of the plates is advantageous in that there is no likelihood of the closing movement of the apron being retarded or prevented by heavy dirt or rocks in the main bowl and lodged against the sides thereof ibethe apron plates.

tween the bottomplate and the lower edges of It is desirable to prevent the passage of dirt between the side plates l0 and I1 and to keep the inner surface of the plates l1 near the plates l0 clean with the relative movement between the connected plates. I therefore mount wiper blades 30 down the front edges of the plates lli'which project outwardly from said plates and closely engage the plates l1. Such engagement is positively maintained by the fact that the plates 10 and H where they are bolted together, are intentionally pulled in closer than the extent of outward projection of the blades, as shown in Figure 6. Said plates are therefore held together under a certain amount of tension and the wiper blades will always frictionally engage the plates H with sufilcient pressure to efliciently prevent the passage of any dirt and to also wipe the plates with which they are in contact free of dirt.

Since, as will be evident, the entire dirt retaining structure of the scraper is completely free of any obstructions from above, except of course at their very ends, there is nothing to interfere with the efficient loading of the scraper from above as by a power shovel or other loading means, so that it can be readily used in connection with shovel and like operations as well as for scraping purposes and as the work being undertaken may render desirable or necessary.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein. 7

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device.

still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims? Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire. to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A scraper comprising a main frame having side beams, a shaft rigid with and forming a cross connection between said beams at their rear end,

a bowl disposed between the beams,- and a sleeve rig-id with the sides of and under the bowl turnably mounted on the shaft and extendingthe full width of the bowl.

2. A scraper comprising a main frame having side beams, a shaft rigid with and forming a cross connection between said beams at their rear end,

a bowl disposed between the beams, said bowl including side plates and a bottom plate, the side plates at the rear' end of the bowl depending below the bottom plate,' and asleeve turnably mounted on the shaft and extending between and rigidly secured to the side plates underthe bottom plate.

3. A structure as in claim 2, with means separately applied to the side plates to turn the bowl about the shaft as an axis.

4. A scraper including a frame supported from the ground, a bowl pivoted at its rear end adjaing open at its rear end, means to thus tilt the bowl, an endgate closing tberear end of said bowl when the latter is in a scraping position, and

means acting on the endgate to automatically raise the same from the bowl with an upward and rearward tilting movement of .the latter a predetermined distance from said scraping position.

- 5. A scraper including a frame supported from the ground, a bowl pivoted at its rear end adjacent the bottom on the frame for tilting movement in a vertical plane, whereby said rear end is maintained at a substantially constant level irrespective of the tilting of the bowl, said bowl being open at its rear end, means to thus tilt the bowl, an endgate closing the rear end of said bowl between scraping and carrying positions of the latter, and means applied to the endgate to automatically raise the same from the bowl when the latter is tilted rearwardly and upwardly beyond a carrying position.

6. A scraper including a frame supported from the ground, a bowl pivoted at its rear end admeans between the frame, bowl and endgate to swing the latter about the arm pivots and upwardly from the bowl when the latter is tilted upwardly and rearwardly above a carrying position.

'7. A scraper including a frame supported from the ground, a bowl pivoted on the frame for tilting movement in a vertical plane, said bowl being open at its rear end, means to thus tilt the bowl, an endgate closing the rear end of said bowl between scraping and carrying positions of the latter, forwardly extending arms rigid with the endgate and pivoted on the sides of the bowl, a pulley mounted on the bowl on a horizontal transverse axis above the pivot of the latter, a cable connected at one end to the endgate below the pulley and extending thence over the pulley, and means to anchor the other end of the cable on the frame; the point of anchorage being in front of the bowl pivot.

8. A scraper including a frame supported from the ground, a bowl pivoted on the frame for tilting movement in a vertical plane, said bowl being open at its rear end, means to thus tilt the bowl, an endgate closing the rear end of said bowl between scraping and carrying positions of the latter, forwardly extending arms rigid with the 'endgate and pivoted on the sides of the bowl, a pulley mounted on the bowl, :1, cable connected at one end to the endgate below the pulley and extending thence over the pulley, and means to anchor the other end of the cable on the frame; the pulley and point of anchorage being positioned relative to the pivot mounting of the bowl so that as the bowl is tilted rearwardly beyond a carrying position, the distance from the point of anchorage to the pulley increases substantially in proportion to the extent of such tilting.

9. A scraper including a frame supported from the ground, a main bowl in "the frame and including side plates, means pivoting the bowl on the frame for tilting movement in a vertical plane, a secondary bowl disposed in front'of the main bowl and including side plates, means pivotally connecting the side plates of both bowls and relatively horizontally movable supporting. means between the beams and secondary bowl functioning between carrying and scraping positions of the main bowl.

10. A scraper including a frame supported from the ground, a main bowl in the frame and including a bottom plate, means pivoting the bowl on the frame for tilting movement in a vertical plane,

a secondary bowl in front of the main bowl and including a bottom plate, means pivoting the bowls together so that the bottom plates thereof plate of the main bowl as the latter is tilted from a carrying to a scraping position.

11. A scraper including a frame supported from the ground, a main bowl in the frame and including a bottom plate, means pivotingithe bowl on the frame for tilting movement in a vertical plane, a secondary bowl in front of the main bowl and including a bottom plate, means between the frame and secondary bowl to support the latter against downward movement and to allow the same to move forwardly relative to the bottom plate of the main bowl as the latter moves from a carrying to a scraping position, and an adjustable pivot connection between the bowls arranged so that the bottom plates thereof are in alined and contacting relation between carrying and dumping positions and so that the secondary bowl will move forwardly as the main bowl moves to a scraping position and to an extent governed by the position of the adjustable pivot.

12. A scraper including a frame supportedfrom the ground, a main bowl in the frame and including a bottom plate, means pivoting the bowl on the frame for tilting movement in a vertical plane, a secondary bowl in front of the main bowl and including a bottom plate, means 1 on the frame for vertical movement at its forward end, a secondary bowl infront of the main bowl to cooperate therewith when said main bowl is raised to and above a carrying position, means pivoting the bowls together at selectively different positions in the height thereof and so that the bottom plates thereof may come in contact or separate lengthwise and vertically of each other,

and means engaging the secondary bowl to cause such separation only as the main bowl tilts between carrying and scraping positions.

14. A scraper including a frame supported from the ground, a main bowl in the frame and including a bottom plate, means pivoting the bowl on the frame for tilting movement in a. vertical plane, a secondary bowl in front of the main bowl and including a bottom plate, the bottom plates being adapted for contact between carrying and dumping positions of the main bowl, means acting on the secondary bowl to hold the bottom of the same against substantial lowering movement as the bottom of the main bowl is lowered from a carrying to a scraping position and permitting forward movement of the secondary bowl, and means adjustably connecting the bowls and cooperating with said last named means to move the secondary bowl forwardly with the lowering of the main bowl and to an extent determined by the adjustment of the connecting means.

15. A scraper including a frame supported from the ground, a main bowl in the frame and including side plates and a bottom plate, means pivoting the bowl on the frame for tilting movement in a vertical plane, a secondary bowl in front of the main bowl and including side plates and a bottom plate, the plates of the bowls being disposed in overlapping relation and being provided in their overlapping portions with vertical rows of holes matching with each other when the adjacent ends of the bottoms of thebowls are in contact, pivot bolts through selected opposed pairs of holes, rollers projecting laterally from the secondary bowl ahead of the bolts, and rails on the beams to engage said rollers only-after the main bowl has been lowered'beyond a carrying position.

16. In a scraper, a main bowl having side plates,

a secondary bowl longitudinally alined with the main bowl and including side plates, the plates of the bowls overlapping each other, pivot connections between the plates whereby they may move relative to each other, and means between the cooperating pairs, of plates to prevent the passage of dirt between said plates and to scrape ,dirt from the adjacent surface of those plates which project forwardly from the other plates.

17. In a scraper, a main bowl having side plates, a secondary bowl longitudinally-alined with the main bowl and including side plates, the plates of the bowls overlapping each other, and wiper blades down the forward edges of the main bowl plates frictionally engaging the adjacent sur-,

faces of the plates of the secondary bowl.

18. In a scraper, a main bowl having side plates, a secondary bowl longitudinally alined withthe main bowl and including side plates, the plates of the bowls overlapping each other and being spaced apart laterally, wiper blades down the forward edges of the main bowl plates projecting across the spaces and engaging the adjacent surfaces of the plates of the secondary .bowl, and

pivot bolts between the pairs of plates rearwardly of the blades and pulling said plates together to bowl is in a carrying position, means to raise and lower the main bowl at its forward end between carrying and scraping positions, means supporting the secondary bowl adjacent its forward end for horizontal movement, and limiting its downward movement, and means adjustably mounting the secondary bowl in connection with the 'main bowl so that the latter will move forward different selected distances with the lowering of the main bowl from a carrying to a scraping position.

20. A scraper including side frame beams, supported from the ground, the rear portion. of said beams sloping downwardly to a termination near the ground-a bowl disposed between the beams, a pivot connection between the rear end and bottom of the bowl and the rear lower end of the beams wherebythe bottom of the bowl when horizontally disposed will be close to the ground, while causing a pull on the beams to be directly imparted to the bowl at the pivot, and means to swing the bowl about the pivot as an axis.

21. A scraper including side frame beams, wheels supporting the beams intermediate their ends, said beams sloping downwardly from adjacent the wheel axes, a bowl disposed between and projecting above the beams, a pivot connection between the rear end of the bowl and the rear end of the beams, substantiallyhorizontal double-ended power cylinders disposed above the sloping portion of the beams, pivot connections between the forward end of the cylinders and the beams adjacent the longitudinal position of V the wheel axes, rigid piston rods projecting from the rear end of the cylinders, a pivot connection between the rear endsof the rods and the sides of .the bowl adjacent the rearend thereof and above thepivotal connection of said bowl with the frame beams.

WILLIAM J. ADAMS. 

